title: New oral anticoagulants--a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban are three new oral anticoagulants that have recently been approved in Norway. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the mechanisms of action, the most important indications and practical advice on the use of these drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review is based on published phase 3 studies, a literature search in PubMed and the authors' clinical experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indications for use of the new anticoagulants include thromboprophylaxis after total hip and knee replacement surgery (all three), prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (all three), treatment of acute venous thrombosis and secondary prophylaxis after venous thrombosis (currently only rivaroxaban). For the aforementioned indications, these drugs have proven to be non-inferior to standard established anticoagulation therapy. For atrial fibrillation, all three drugs have also shown a lower incidence of intracranial bleeding compared with standard treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to limit the use of these drugs to approved indications, to select patients who show good compliance, to rule out contraindications and to identify drug interactions. Monitoring of coagulation is not required, but patients should be followed up regularly to detect conditions that may lead to changes in the expected efficacy or safety.
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ghanima
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atar
authors.forename: Per Morten
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sandset
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069604:Dabigatran; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011728:Pyridones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D009025:Morpholines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011728:Pyridones; D013876:Thiophenes; D015091:beta-Alanine; C522181:apixaban; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran